How to Properly Store Alcohol In Your Home

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day weekend, we decided to have a little fun in the most recent version of “Home Schooled.” As such, we met with Antonio Carannante, the owner of Blend Bar and Bistro located in Hamilton, New Jersey, to obtain some “schooling” on how to properly pour a Guinness, properly pour any draft beer, and how to properly store several types of alcohol in your home.

As demonstrated in the “Home Schooled” video, Antonio showed us how to properly pour a Guinness. In short, you want to make sure your cup is placed under a tap at a 45 degree angle and pour until your cup is approximately 85% full. At that point, let the beer sit for approximately 2 minutes. During this time, the Guinness will gradually turn into its trademark color. Afterward, you can “top it off,” thereby filling the cup to its capacity.

Antonio also showed how to properly pour any draft beer. Again, place the cup beneath the tap at a 45 degree angle. Thereafter, quickly open the tap and pour the beer in and quickly close the tap when finished. The key is to pour the beer quickly, not slowly. Pouring too slowly causes the beer to develop too much “head” or foam. As you can expect, this will drastically alter the taste of the beer.

Finally, Antonio provided several useful tips on how to properly store several types of alcohol in your home. Universally, alcohol should be stored in a dark, shaded area away from sunlight. Moreover, it should be kept in an area that holds a constant temperature. Therefore, the bottom of a closet, basement, or garage often work best to ensure the alcohol retains its consistency and proper taste.

Antonio also explained how to store differing types of alcohol in your home. Alcohol that is bottled with a cork, such as bottles of wine, should be kept on its side. This ensures the cork remains somewhat “wet.” A cork that remains dry will often break and/or crumble into the bottle when opening the same. As you can expect, this will drastically effect the taste of the beverage and possibly ruin the same. Moreover, Antonio explained that distilled beverages, such as whiskey and vodka, will often remain the same over time once placed in bottles and, thus, not change in appearance and/or taste. Beer and wine, on the other hand, will continue to ferment over time, thereby “changing” their appearance and/or taste gradually. As such, be mindful as to how long particular types of alcohol have been stored in your home.

With these helpful tips, you will be able to ensure the alcohol stored in your home maintains its highest quality. Nevertheless, it is also important that you should drink responsibly, no matter the occasion, to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you. Be safe and have a great St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

Next week, please be sure to tune in to the next Tip at Ten in the next version of “Home Schooled.” Also, please continue to check this blog periodically for vital information about the home inspection process.